This news may induce horrified convulsions in those who remember America's soul-destroying attempt at Kath & Kim, however, the US Wilfred has a much better pedigree: first, American pay TV is way better than American free-to-air TV; and Jason Gann, who co-created and played Wilfred in the Australian original, will reprise the role in the remake.

America's Wilfred is the first regular TV gig for Elijah Wood, who'll play Ryan, whose attempts to date a woman go awry when he meets her talking dog Wilfred, "who is part Labrador retriever and part Russell Crowe on a bender".